LOS ANGELES and CLEVELAND, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ — Fontana Distribution, the independent distribution arm of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company has partnered with Cleveland-based Element 9 Muzik LLC to release upcoming titles from the label. The announcement was made today by Ron Spaulding, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Fontana, and Element 9 President Tony “X” Franklin. The label’s release schedule is currently being finalized with plans to make the label’s first release through the new partnership available during the second quarter of 2010.

Franklin brings close to 20 years of experience working in the music industry. He previously served as the President of NuBlud Management, a Cleveland based Management Company specializing in the promotion and marketing of various urban acts. Franklin also served as the Head of Street and Lifestyle/ Midwest Radio Promotion for Asylum Records/ Warner Bros. Records and previously helped broker the Swisha House major distribution deal with Asylum Records

Joining Franklin will be Stu “DJ Xplosive” Pflaum, who founded the Element 9 Company in 2005 and has partnered with Franklin in the past on various music ventures. Pflaum will act as the label’s Vice President, bringing his expertise in internet marketing and new media strategies and will manage the label’s digital presence.

Also joining the team will be Douglas “Fresh” Jones, who previously worked with Franklin’s NuBlud Management team and will oversee Lifestyle Promotion of the label’s acts. Marlowe “Mauly T” Taylor will serve as the studio engineer for all the label’s projects, including the mixing and mastering of all recordings. Mauly T has mastered several Fontana projects (Capone & Noreage, Killer Mike, Beeda Weeda etc). Doc Taylor looks to continue in this capacity. Studio 76, is a renowned studio that has hosted the likes of Bone Thugs N Harmony, Snoop Dogg, Young Joc, Killer Mike, Ice Cube, Trae & Public Enemy to name a few.

“We are excited to welcome Element 9 Muzik to the Fontana family of labels,” stated Spaulding. “Tony and his team are true entrepreneurs and innovators, and we look forward to working with them to maximize opportunities on all fronts for their artists.”

Franklin commented that he was “proud to bring together a group of talented individuals from the Cleveland area to form a team capable of delivering professional results for our artists” and looks forward to using the Element 9 label to demonstrate the ability of a record label to prosper during this new era in the music industry without having to be based in big cities like New York or Los Angeles.

About Fontana

Fontana Distribution, the independent arm of Universal Music Group Distribution (UMGD), provides unparalleled sales and marketing support, as well as back office services, for a diverse roster of labels and their artists. Fontana distributes more than 100 labels including Vagrant Records, Telarc, Eagle Rock, VP Records, American Gramaphone, Downtown, Six Degrees, Nitro, SMC, Trustkill, Delicious Vinyl, ESL, Modular, Ministry of Sound, Ipecac, Strange Music, Music World, VH1 Classic Records, MySpace Records and many others. In addition, Fontana distributes select projects from Universal Music Group labels worldwide.

SOURCE Universal Music Group

Name: DJ Xplosive

Location: New York City

Representing: (ie, V-103, Aphilliates, etc.) Element 9 Hip-Hop

Years DJing: I started DJing back in 1997, but have been more centered on the business end of the music industry since 2006. I’m planning to step out of retirement very soon…

Who gave you your break into the industry?

I wouldn’t be anywhere without the help of Tony “X Allah” Franklin from Nublud Management in Cleveland.

Genre(s) of music you specialize in: Hip-Hop

What has been your career highlight thus far?

In less than 3 years I have gone from being an intern at a major record label to a Grammy nominated music publisher and to working marketing campaigns with some of the biggest names in the music industry.

What advice do you have for the DJ’s that have been grinding for a while who haven’t “sparked” or gotten their break?

Make sure you are always focusing on what separates you from the competition. Find your niche and spend equal amounts of time sharpening your skills and marketing yourself. Nobody becomes an overnight success as a DJ.

What advice would you give an independent artist who’s trying to get in the “game”?

1) The team around you is going to be the key to your success. 2) If you’re going to work in the business, learn the business. 3) Keep your expectations realistic and have lots of patience.

With music continuously moving toward a digital/internet based way consumers get their music, what do you do as a DJ to stay up with the times in order to remain relevant?

I visit as many blog sites as I can every day. Not just music blogs, I try to stay on top of technology, business and news blogs too. I stay ahead by constantly knowing what’s going on in the world.

What is your definition of a DJ/Record Breaker?

A real record breaker is someone who hears a record and becomes legitimately excited by the opportunity to introduce to his/her audience a track that is likely to be a hit.

Have you broken any records and if so, who / which song(s)?

I had a lot to do with Soulja Boy breaking out. I’ve contributed to the success of many records that have gone on to be hits, but my work in getting airplay for Soulja Boy while he was still unsigned was one of the most challenging and also most rewarding experiences of my career.

If there was 1 thing you could change about the music industry today, what would that be?

To put it simply, there needs to be more youth in the label offices and the industry has to be open-minded about the change this youthful leadership will bring.

How can our readers get a hold of you?

Xplosiveworld.com and twitter.com/djxplosive

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